Published By: Sanchari Das

SA vs. IND T20I: Captain Surya and Co. on a Record Chase in South Africa – What's at Stake?

Each record brings its own thrill and significance, adding extra excitement to the series

After a challenging home series against New Zealand, Team India is set to face South Africa with renewed energy and a fresh squad in the T20I format. Leading the side this time is Suryakumar Yadav, who has not only showcased his T20 batting prowess but has also previously captained India. As he guides a young squad in overseas conditions, both he and his teammates Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya have significant records within their reach. Here's a look at the milestones these players can achieve in the series.

Suryakumar Yadav: Chasing India's top T20I run-scorers

With an impressive 2544 runs in his T20I career, Suryakumar Yadav has become one of India's most prolific T20 batters. He holds a strong record against South Africa, with 346 runs in just seven games at a high strike rate of 175.63. He can surpass Rohit Sharma (429) and Virat Kohli (394) in this series as India's highest T20I run-scorer against South Africa. With both legends retired from the format, Suryakumar only needs 84 runs to take the top spot. Achieving this would solidify his standing as India's new T20I kingpin.

Eyeing the most T20I runs in IND vs SA clashes

While Suryakumar could become India's leading run-scorer against South Africa, he also has a chance to break another record: the highest overall runs in India-South Africa T20Is. Currently, this record is held by South Africa's David Miller, with 452 runs from 21 matches at a strike rate of 156.94. Suryakumar needs 107 runs to surpass Miller and claim this title.

Suryakumar's quest for the most T20I centuries

Yadav has already hit four centuries in his T20I career, placing him close to the record for the most T20I hundreds, currently held jointly by Rohit Sharma and Australia's Glenn Maxwell, with five each. Scoring one century in this series will allow him to equal their record, Glenn Maxwell, who currently holds this record, reaching five centuries in 93 innings. With 71 innings under his belt, Surya is in a strong position to set a new pace for T20I hundreds if he scores just one more in this series, while two centuries will make him the world's leading T20I century-maker.

Six-hitting machine: Aiming for 150 T20I sixes

Sixes have become a hallmark of Suryakumar Yadav's T20 game. With 144 T20I and 330 sixes in T20s sixes, he needs only six more to reach the 150 milestone, potentially becoming the fastest player to achieve this mark. His powerful hitting ability against South Africa's bowling attack will be critical in this series, and he can create history with just a few big shots.

Arshdeep Singh's eyes on India's wicket-taking record

Arshdeep Singh has swiftly climbed the ranks since his debut in 2022, claiming 87 wickets in 56 T20Is. Sharing the fourth spot with Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep needs only ten wickets in this series to become India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is, surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal's 96 wickets. With his left-arm pace and accuracy, Arshdeep could not only break Chahal's record but also leave a lasting mark in Indian T20I history if he secures his spot as the top Indian wicket-taker in the format.

Arshdeep Singh's record chase for most wickets in a year

The lanky pacer has been in superb form this year, already claiming 28 wickets from 14 games at an impressive average of 12.96. Bhuvneshwar Kumar holds India's record for most T20I wickets in a calendar year, with 37 in 2022. Arshdeep needs only ten more to surpass Bhuvneshwar, potentially setting a new benchmark for Indian bowlers. If he maintains his momentum, Arshdeep could end 2024 as India's highest T20I wicket-taker in a calendar year, a remarkable achievement for the young bowler.

Hardik Pandya: aiming for T20I bowling glory

With his impressive all-round skills, the all-rounder has also accumulated 87 T20I wickets, matching Arshdeep's tally. With 13 wickets in this series, he could become the first Indian bowler to reach 100 T20I wickets. This feat would place him among the global elite in T20I bowling, adding another chapter to his successful T20 career.